There's distinctly a conflict as to who is/was in charge of the clean-up

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/full-text-of-president-obamas-oil-spill-speech-2010-06-15
By MarketWatch
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Following is the full text of President Barack Obama's Oval Office address about the BP PLC oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. energy policy:

Good evening. As we speak, our nation faces a multitude of challenges. At home, our top priority is to recover and rebuild from a recession that has touched the lives of nearly every American. Abroad, our brave men and women in uniform are taking the fight to al Qaeda wherever it exists. And tonight, I've returned from a trip to the Gulf Coast to speak with you about the battle we're waging against an oil spill that is assaulting our shores and our citizens.

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First, the cleanup. From the very beginning of this crisis, the federal government has been in charge of the largest environmental cleanup effort in our nation's history - an effort led by Admiral Thad Allen, who has almost forty years of experience responding to disasters. We now have nearly 30,000 personnel who are working across four states to contain and cleanup the oil. Thousands of ships and other vessels are responding in the Gulf. And I have authorized the deployment of over 17,000 National Guard members along the coast. These servicemen and women are ready to help stop the oil from coming ashore, clean beaches, train response workers, or even help with processing claims - and I urge the governors in the affected states to activate these troops as soon as possible.

Now, compare and contrast that to this story and the comments of Robert Gibbs

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/24/earlyshow/main6513824.shtml

ROBERT, La., May 24, 2010
BP or U.S.: Who's In Charge Here?
Exec Says Company Is Doing Everything Possible to Stop Oil Leak But That Feds Have "Ultimate Control of This Event"
By David S Morgan

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Last Friday White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was hammered by reporters asking about the government's responsibility and its oversight of BP's response to the spill.


Gibbs disputed an assertion that the government has "stood there and hoped for the best" when it came to BP's response, yet hedged when asked why the federal government had asked BP for data about the leak instead of ordered them to disclose it. Gibbs seemed to suggest that the government couldn’t do that with a private company - at least not one that wasn't in receivership.

Gibbs said that under a 1990 law, BP is responsible, and the government is simply assisting.

"They're responsible for the cleanup, and they have to pay for it," Gibbs said at his press briefing Friday. The government, he said, is just "overseeing the response."

This is why there's so little confidence in the response of either BP or the Government as they toss the responsibility hot potato around.

My questions to the President:

*Thad Allen might have forty years of responding to disasters (hurricanes, sea rescues, etc.), but is he the right guy to be in charge (if he is) of the largest ENVIRONMENTAL clean-up and disaster in our history?

A sidecomment about the use of language:

*"We now have 30,000 personnel" "Thousands of ships and other vessels are responding in the Gulf"
"These servicemen and women are ready to help" and I urge the governors in the affected states to activate these troops as soon as possible.

The use of the present tense and even future tense as opposed to the past tense this many days after the onset of the spill speaks subliminally to me of admitting to a slow response time, perhaps unconsciously. His speech writers could have done a much better job.

[Clio the Leo]

1. "responsible" has nothing to do with authority and EVERYTHING to do with money. nt

[bertman]

2. Well said, Phoebe. The UNrec crew knocked my rec back to zero though.

[Catherina]

3. Rec'd. His speech writers should be fired n/t

[caledesi]

5. He shld still write his own speeches. Have you read

his books? Obama is a good journalist! No ghostwriters ...

[Catherina]

6. I read Dreams and agree with you. He'd do better writing them himself n/t

[vaberella]

4. Listen to the COAST GUARD! Gibbs is a failure as Press Secretary. Call the Coast Guard.

If you have questions call them. Go to C-Span and listen to the words of the Coast Guard. It is line with the first post. Gibbs is not a good deliverer of information. However, people here and the pundits ignore the Coast Guard. Admiral Thad Allen explains in detail everything. And you know the Government is involved----HEAVILY!! This is not just BP---It Never was.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=340401&mesg_id=340480


Thad Allen is fully capable of responding to this. When you hear this man he knows what he's doing it. As for the law Gibbs mentioned that is a fact...however even Allen has said they are willing to waive that law in order to get things done because they realize that that law is not sufficient.

[gulfbreeze]

7. They are NOT telling you the truth!

Especially the coast guard. I can't believe what we are experiencing down here. Come here and show me just 2 of the 1000's of boats and skimmers they are referring to. I want our Government to take control! Get the ships here! Get the centrifuge pumps here! There are things that can be done. Why do they continue to allow BP do nothing. nothing but lie. The coast guard has been interfering with the scientist and universities sampling and with everyone trying to give us honest information. Save the applause please.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. I just wonder when the mission of the Coast Guard started including suppressing media access?

And acting like the Palace Guard for BP?